As we race to finish the fall semester, finish 2018, and possibly prepare for some time away from school or work, please take time to consider the article below:

Healthy people habit: Quiet your mind
Did you know that in a normal day, we are distracted by our own thoughts 50 percent of the time? And that two-thirds of these thoughts are negative?

Fifty percent is a lot of time dedicated to our own minds, so we should make the most of it! Focusing on positive thoughts rather than negative will significantly improve our well-being and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

How can you do this? It’s easy, practicing mindful meditation can help us learn how to engage with the world around us. Take some time each day to tune in on the environment around you and focus on deep breaths to clear the mind of wandering negative thoughts. The key trick to mindfulness is to remain positive, and don’t get discouraged right away. Becoming mindful can be a tedious process, but there are plenty of ways to practice it, so find one that works for you.

Note: This article was originally posted in the Wisconsin Union Health and Wellness Newsletter and was shared here with permission.